Clare, DJ
(1896 - 1915)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
25th February 1896
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1911 - 1913
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
Bentor, Benhill Wood Road, Sutton
REGIMENT
Honourable Artillery Company
FINAL RANK:
Private
DATE OF DEATH:
16th June 1915
AGE AT DEATH:
19
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Hooge
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Panel 9
Private Denis John Clare
Denis was born in Putney on February 25th 1896, the son of shipbroker William Clare and his wife Henrietta. After spending time at Salisbury Cathedral Choir School he came to Dulwich in 1911, where his elder brother William had already been a pupil. Whilst at Dulwich he specialised in studying engineering, and after he left went out to South America for a time.
He was on board the boat returning from South America when the declaration of War took place, and upon his return to England signed up, enlisting in the 1st Battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company, with whom he went on to France on September 18th 1914. He served on the front line for the next nine months, until, on 16th June 1915, he was killed whilst attempting to carry a wounded comrade to safety near Hooge, an act for which he was mentioned in dispatches.
